The Best Ubuntu AlternativesTop Linux Distros & Operating Systems like Ubuntu
Ubuntu is described as 'Community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more' and is a leading Linux Distro in the os & utilities category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Ubuntu for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, BSD, Self-Hosted and Fedora apps. The best Ubuntu alternative is Linux Mint, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Ubuntu are Debian, Manjaro Linux, Fedora and Arch Linux.
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Ubuntu alternatives are mainly Operating Systems but may also be Linux Distros. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Ubuntu.- Linux Distro
- Free • Open Source
178 Linux Mint alternativesLinux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people. The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use. Latest: Wilma (22).
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Ireland
EU
Platforms
- Linux
Linux Mint VS Ubuntu
Comments about Linux Mint as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Comment summary: Linux Mint is praised for its ease of use and smooth installation process, particularly appealing to Windows users due to its Windows-like interface and Cinnamon desktop environment. Many users find it more polished and responsive than Ubuntu, citing fewer installation issues and a more stable experience. However, it is also noted that it is essentially a derivative of Ubuntu with no significant differences other than aesthetic aspects.Top Positive CommentMost Recent CommentI love linux mint! Easy to use, easy to setup and i love the design!
Robert WangIt has no enough technical support. Do settings as in slackware?
191 Debian alternativesThe Debian Project is an association of individuals who have made common cause to create a free operating system. This operating system that we have created is called Debian.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Switzerland
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Self-Hosted
Debian VS Ubuntu
Comments about Debian as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Top Positive CommentBuster_BlueIt's what Ubuntu is directly based on. It also isn't as hard to use as it used to be. I'd say that anyone who isn't completely new to Linux should be able to use it just fine. Though I'd recommend sticking with the stable branch of Debian if you are still relatively new, then moving to the other branches later on.
Top Negative CommentIt doesn't let you install proprietary drivers and doesn't have a GUI to manage these drivers like Ubuntu or Mint has, due to its philosophy. That's a thing people forget to mention when saying Debian is the option for Ubuntu or even Mint, so it isn't.
Most Recent CommentveddevPersonally, i have never used plain Debian. It looks nice, though.
177 Manjaro Linux alternativesManjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on the independently developed Arch operating system. Within the Linux community, Arch itself is renowned for being an exceptionally fast, powerful, and lightweight distribution that provides access to the very latest cutting...
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Germany- EU
Platforms
- Linux
- Arch Linux
Manjaro Linux VS Ubuntu
Comments about Manjaro Linux as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Top Positive CommentJohn FastmanManjaro Linux has got the point where it's more user friendly than Ubuntu, in my opinion. Particularly in the XFCE (official) and MATE (community) builds, the pamac/pacman package manager is utterly great to use and draws software not just from Manjaro repositories but from Arch's AUR, which has something like 60k+ software apps. Despite being based on Arch, Manjaro is very user-friendly and the community support is fantastic.
Most Recent CommentmlemmarkA good distribution, but often breaks during an update, to use it, you need to be aware of new changes in their forum. It says it's for newbies, but it doesn't differs so much from Arch. Since it's a rolling-release/bleeding-edge distribution, it is not as stable as Linux Mint, Ubuntu and so on.
- Arch-based 2. Easy to install 3. Care about stability even being a rolling release kind of distro 4. It has GUIs for installing kernel, drivers and complex language packs 5. It has Pamac which is the most complete package manager/store in the Linux with supports and have access to the official repo, AUR, snap and flatpak. 6. it has different desktop environments for your taste 7. Good performance on games 8. It has minimal versions for tinkers.
179 Fedora alternativesFedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Linux
Fedora VS Ubuntu
Comments about Fedora as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Top Positive Comment9y0xwefhpwAlbeit Fedora is supported by bigger company (Red Hat), it does not spy on users like Ubuntu. Fedora comprises only freedom software except for firmware (which can be resolved by freed-ora) unlike Ubuntu. Cleaner upgrade than Ubuntu.
Top Negative CommentIt doesn't have proprietary codecs and drivers pre-installed like Ubuntu. It's hard to install it, not for newbies.
Most Recent CommentveddevFedora is REALLY nice! Looks modern and simple.
191 Arch Linux alternativesArch Linux is an independently developed, x86_64 optimized GNU/Linux distribution targeted at competent Linux users. It uses pacman, its home-grown package manager, to provide updates to the latest software applications with full dependency tracking.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
- United States
Platforms
- Linux
Arch Linux VS Ubuntu
Comments about Arch Linux as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Most Recent CommentJohn FastmanArch is not a distro for Linux beginners: you really have to know what you're doing to set it up and keep it ticking over. Ubuntu is beginner friendly. However, check out Manjaro - that's Arch-based but done in a user friendly way that's maybe even friendlier than Ubuntu.
- It doesn't have a proper graphical install 2. Arch community doesn't like newbies and treat them like crap 3. Everything is command line based 4. There are not helpers for newbies, the distro uses the KISS philosophy, is minimalistic and not user-friendly like Ubuntu 5. It uses the rolling release and bleeding edge model, so it's kind easy to break thing due the huge quantity of updates weekly.
veddevArch is not a beginner friendly Linux distro, but i use a distro thats based on arch called EndeavourOS. Its very nice, For someone that wants to use and learn Arch, go with EndeavourOS!
197 Kubuntu alternativesKubuntu is an official "flavor" of Ubuntu that uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment. This gives it a completely different look and feel.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Platforms
- Linux
Kubuntu VS Ubuntu
Comments about Kubuntu as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Top Positive CommentastronareKDE is faster and better than Gnome
Most Recent CommentDavid FigueroaKDE is faster than GNOME and more customizable too
RemovedUserKubuntu is basically Ubuntu but with the KDE Plasma desktop, which gives a feel of Windows, highly recommended.
Xubuntu VS Ubuntu
Comments about Xubuntu as an Alternative to Ubuntu
Most Recent CommentJohn FastmanXubuntu is Ubuntu in almost every way. The difference is that instead of Ubuntu's Unity desktop, you get the XFCE desktop, which - in my opinion - is much better. But it's certainly faster on older/slower computers.
Xubuntu is nothing more than Ubuntu with the XFCE desktop environment and fewer included packages. I think it's far superior because it's faster than easier to use than Ubuntu.
mlemmarkLinux Mint Xfce makes a better alternative which a set of apps that makes sense, a great system updater, GUI to manage kernels, GUI to help fixing bugs, especially related to the repository. Mint also respect the user privacy, doesn't force snap, let the user have the choice. Mint Xfce has custom theme and user-friendly look-and-feel.
More polished and Windows-like than plain Ubuntu. Cinnamon comes with Nemo which shows file creation dates as well as modification dates.